Chain-clasp



E. E. DANA.

, CHAIN CLASP.

APPLICATION man n27, r921.

" -1,377, Patented 10,

UNITED STATES,

EARL E. DANA, or s'rocxronr, Iowa.

CHAIN-CLASP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 10, 1921.

Application filed January 27,1921. Serial No. 440,392.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL E. DANA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockport, in the county of Van Enron and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Chain-Clasp, of which the following is a specification. v

This invention relates to clasps, and more particularly to clasps employed for connecting the ends of chains, it being the primary object of the invention to provide a clasp which will be locked to the chain to eliminate accidental displacement thereof.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a clasp of this character of a novel construction adapting the same for use especially with anti-skid chains for motor vehicle tires.

that changes in the precise embodiment of. the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, with out departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 illustrates a sectional, view through a clasp constructed in accordance with the present invention, the locking member being shown in an unlocked position.

Fig. 2 illustrates a plan view of the clasp.

showing the locking element in its locked position.

Referring to the drawing in detail, thev clasp includes a body portion 5 which may be formed in any suitable design, to meet."v various requirements for which the device is to be used.

The body portion 5 is providedwith a cut out portion 6 forming a hook member 7,

whichhook member is designed to be positioned behind one link of the free end of the chain, orfiexible element, whichhas connection with the clasp, and which is to be locked thereto, in a manner to be here-' 7 inafter more fully described.

I end of the chain therefrom.

I Formed in the body portion 5, and extend ing from one edge the'reof, isa cut out portion 8,'the lower wallof which is provided with a lug 9, which has oneedge thereof curved to conform to the curvature of the link 10, which as shown, engages therewith, the lug 9 being for the purpose of supporting the link and holding the same while the,

locking member is belng positioned. After 7 the locking member has been positioned, the

link 10, is moved to contact with the curved wall 11, of thecut out portion 8 where the same is retained.

This locking member is indicated by the f reference character 12, and is formed preferably of sheet 'metaL-bent intermediate the adapted to contact with the side faces of the body 5, and as shown, the lockingmember 12 has pivotal connection with the body porside edges to provide opposed flanges 13 1 tion 5 as by means of the bolt 14, which passes through the flanges 13, and a suitable opening formed in the body portion 5.

Formed in the'respective flanges 13 and disposed at points opposite each other, are the cut out portions 15, one wall of which is I provided with an extension 16, which, when the locking member 13 is in its locking osition will restrict the opening forme the cut out portions 15 to eliminate any possibility of the link 10 passing from the opening 111 which the same is positioned.

he bolt 14 is relatively long and has its ends extending beyond the sidewalls of the lockin member 13, where the same receives the twlsted ends 17 of the link member 18, which permanently connects. one end of the chain to the clasp. 1 v

, In order that the locking'means13 may be easily and readilyoperated, a notch 19 is formed therein to accommodate the thumb nail of the operator, whereupon the locking member 12 may be pivoted to its open position if it is desired to disconnect the free In the operationof the device, is positioned behind the hook member 7,

while the chain is being stretched around the link 10 position over the lug 9 tothe end that the link is held in a position out of the path of travel of the locking member 12, when the same is moved to a locking position.

It is obvious that when the locking member is moved to a position as indicated in dotted lines as in Fig. lot the drawing, the link member 10 may be moved to contact with the curved wall'lhivith the result that the link may only. be removed by moving the locking member 12 to its 1m locked position Having thus described the invention, What is claimed as new is In a clasp, a body portion having a cut out portion extending fromone of the side edges thereof, a lug formed on one of the Walls or" the out out portion, a hook member formed adjacent to one end of the body portion, said lug adapted to engage a link of a chain,,a pivoted locking member embraclug the body portion and extending inwardly terminating at a point flush With one edge of the lug to permit the locking member to move thereover, and said locking member having an opening adapted to register with the out out portion of the locking member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aliixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EARL E. DANA.

lVitnesses N. H. BANGS, M. B. HUMI HRnYs. 

